Zondervan to release ‘gender-accurate’ NIV
Zondervan Publishing House, the world’s largest Bible publisher, and the International Bible Society, which holds the copyright to the New International Version of the Bible (NIV), announced Jan. 28 that they plan to publish “Today’s New International Version” (TNIV), a “gender-accurate” version of the Bible.
“The TNIV delivers a fresh and accurate understanding of the Bible to today’s reader,” said Bruce Ryskamp, president of Zondervan. “I can think of no other work that fulfills our mission better or more completely.”
Zondervan officials say the new version uses generic language where the meaning of the text was intended to include both men and women. Examples include “sons of God” being changed to “children of God,” and “brothers” becoming “brothers and sisters” when no specific reference to gender was intended in the original text. The TNIV does not use neutral pronouns to refer to God; it continues to refer to God using masculine pronouns.
A statement from Zondervan called the TNIV part of an “ongoing mission to offer updated translations that reflect clarity in modern language and uncompromising accuracy.” It added, “The best-selling NIV will continue to be published in its current form without change.”
Larry Lincoln, a spokesman for the International Bible Society (IBS), said “Accuracy and clarity are prime with us” and said the TNIV uses generic language for men and women “only when the text was meant to include both men and women.”
Lincoln said critics who call the TNIV “gender-neutral” are inaccurate. “There is no tampering or changing of the Deity,” he said. “God will always be He. So it’s certainly not gender-neutral; it’s gender-accurate.”
The translation reflects the language changes that are occurring in everyday English, according to Dr. Ronald Youngblood, chair of the IBS board of directors and a member of the Committee on Bible Translation (CBT), the group that developed the TNIV. “English is always changing. As a result, we must continue the work of translation to guarantee that the Bible is accurately communicated in the language of the day,” Youngblood said. “We firmly believe that everyone should have access to the transforming power of God’s Word in language they can understand and relate to.”
Janet Folger, national director for the Center for Reclaiming America, said, “At least I’m comfortable that this version didn’t give God a sex change — that’s a good thing.” But, she added, “To suggest that women are so frail and insecure that we can’t recognize inclusive language, that we need a politically correct crutch, really makes about as much sense as taking a bottle of white-out to the Declaration of Independence because it says ‘all men are created equal.’ We don’t alter historical documents — and I don’t believe we should alter the Word of God.”
Author Philip Yancey endorsed the TNIV, saying, “As the editor of the Student Bible, I’ve spent thousands of hours trying to help readers understand the NIV Bible. I’m thrilled to hear about the TNIV and its ability to help add clarity and impact to the study of God’s Word.”
Alan Johnson, an emeritus professor at Wheaton College Graduate School, said the TNIV was carefully prepared. “This is a good translation made even better by the current revisions...one can be, I think, very comfortable with the theological precision of the way in which the text has been handled,” Johnson said.
Gary Burge, professor of New Testament at Wheaton, said, “This is a splendid revision of the NIV in every respect. The translators have found that delicate balance between accuracy and contemporary expression while retaining the rich tradition of the NIV. It is clear that the every verse in this revision has been considered carefully so that minor changes have smoothed out complex or awkward passages in the original NIV while keeping the spirit of evangelicalism’s favorite Bible. Readers who love the NIV will love this new, revised NIV even more. It is a tribute to excellent scholarship, literary skill, and contemporary expression.”
But 26 scholars signed a statement declaring, “we cannot endorse the TNIV translation as sufficiently accurate to commend to the church.” The group includes two Southern Baptist Convention seminary presidents, R. Albert Mohler Jr. of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Paige Patterson of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, along with Wayne Grudem of Phoenix Seminary in Scottsdale, Ariz., and a past president of the Evangelical Theological Society.
— E.P. News
Also included are: Harold O.J. Brown of Reformed Theological Seminary; R.C. Sproul of Ligonier Ministries; John Piper of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis; and Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. of First Presbyterian Church, Augusta, Ga.
The statement by the scholars said, “In light of troubling translation inaccuracies — primarily (but not exclusively) in relation to gender language — that introduce distortions of the meanings that were conveyed better by the original NIV, we cannot endorse the TNIV translation as sufficiently accurate to commend to the church.”
The Rev. Jerry Falwell expressed concern about the new Bible, calling it “an attempt to alter the Word of God to accommodate the present age, which is concerned with ‘inclusiveness’ and ‘tolerance.’”
Falwell also noted that in 1997 the International Bible Society had promised to “forego all plans to develop a revised edition of the NIV...” Falwell said, “They reneged on their commitment.” A statement from IBS argues that it isn’t abandoning its pledge because the latest version won’t replace the NIV — it will just be sold alongside the older translation.
Dr. James Dobson, influential radio host and founder of Focus on the Family, said, “Being neither a theologian nor a linguist, I am not qualified to make an assessment of the translation accuracy of the recently released TNIV. However, I have now received sufficient feedback from a large number of evangelical scholars to convince me that this new work is a step backward in the field of biblical translation. Accordingly, I am now adding my name to the list of those who disagree with the liberties IBS has taken with God’s Word in the new translation.”
Dr. Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, said he is disturbed with the changes. “I guess it goes to show that even Christian publishers have been influenced by Bill Clinton’s corruption of the language...I guess we have to now delve into what ‘the meaning of is,’ is.”
Randy Stinson, executive director of the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, said the gender-neutral Bible will contain “absolute mistranslations,” because the original texts include a singular generic “he,” and it is replaced with a plural “they” or “them.” Stinson said the change drains some passages of their personal nature.
The New Testament TNIV will be released in April. The Old Testament will be added to the TNIV in 2005.